Chained to old wounds

CH126

Morgan

I thought about that for a moment, the truth of it settling deep inside me. “We wear crowns, live in grand palaces, and that distracts from the truth,

“The truth?”

“We’re s

still just people at the mercy of an establishment that isn’t always fair.”

Lady Jun nodded, her expression softening. “Hayato… he’s been kind to me, despite everything that’s been happening. He never pressured me or abused me. He encouraged me to… pursue all kinds of education when my brother wouldn’t let me… I want to make things right with him.” She clenched her jaw. “I want to be free.”

I grinned. “That’s most of the battle, you know.‘ I turned. “Join me and the council for dinner tonight. Tsuneo will likely be there.” I paused. “I suppose I should look into who is a part of his council other than Doctor Shang.”

Her lips quivered as she smiled through her tears. “Thank you, Crown Princess… for the opportunity. I will be there.”

I nodded. “I have other people to scold. I’ll see you later. And, no matter what your brother and whoever else had led you to believe, you’re stronger than you realize, Lady Jun. Don’t let anyone Elia, your brother, or even yourself–convince you otherwise.”

We stood there for a while in silence, the gentle rustling of the wind through the trees offering a strange sense of calm. She nodded and I left, walking back inside with Maya and Anya.

“Why did you have her come outside?” Anya asked, frowning.

She smiled and wiggled my eyebrows. “Later. For now, we go to who is next on the list. Who is…?”

“Lady Mei.”

Great. I didn’t think that was Keiji’s mother, but I couldn’t be sure. Her extravagant spending habits seemed suspiciously similar to Lady Maro’s. I headed to Lad

Mei’s room. The door was

open and I entered, finding her lounging in a similar position to Lady Maro, draped in a bathing robe. Her servant was fanning her.

“What do you want?”

1/4

CH126

“I’ll be repossessing everything you spent over your allotted budget. I held out my hand to Anya. who handed me th tally I’d put together. “Here’s the preliminary amount. It’ll be collected tonight.

Lady Mei’s face flushed crimson, her eyes filled with anger. “You can’t do that!”

“If you don’t have it, you’ll be put on trial to get answers, one way or another.” I smiled. “And your family will be contacted to get the balance from their estate, even if that means we have to take.

the estate.”

Her eyes bulged. “You can’t do that”

“I can,” I said. “And if it is worse than I think, you’ll be exiled.”

She shuddered.

I tilted my head. “I’ll give you an opportunity to tell me where it all is.”

She grumbled. “None of your business.”

I shrugged. “Fine, continue to lie, but I suggest you come clean before it’s too late.”

Lady Mei scoffed. “I have nothing to hide.”

“Really?” I asked, my voice barely a whisper. “Then why don’t I just have them collect it now?”

Lady Mei’s face paled, her eyes filled with fear and anger. She knew I was onto her, she knew she

couldn’t hide the truth.

“I’m not afraid of anything,” she stammered, her voice barely a whisper. “And you can’t just—*

I smiled. “Oh, But you are,” I replied, my voice barely a whisper. “You’re afraid of the consequences

and what will happen if the truth gets out.”

Lady Mei’s eyes narrowed her expression one of pure hatred. “How dare you,” she hissed, her voice barely a whisper.

I ignored her insults. “I know what you’re doing,” I said, my voice firm. ‘You’re working for Elia.”

Lady Mei’s face turned a deep shade of crimson. This was too easy.

“I’ll tell everyone,” I said, voice filled with a mixture of menace and amusement. “I’ll tell them about your affair with Elia. I’m sure you’ve angered enough staff members that they’ll be glad to tell exactly how often you vanish to go see him.”

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CH126

Lady Mei’s eyes widened, her expression one of pure terror. She knew what that would mean, she knew the consequences of her actions.

“You have no proof.”

“I have enough to suspect,” I said. “And your fear tells me enough to know that I’m right.” I turned. “I’ll take it in gold or coins.”

“Wait!” I looked back at her, waiting. “You can’t… I mean… It’s impossible.”

“As I said, we’ll take your family estate too.”

“Please,” she pleaded, her voice barely a whisper. “You can’t. It’s been— my family— we’ll be disgraced forever! Exiled! Don’t you have a heart?”

“I’m sure we can take in the children as wards… The adults however… Well, I’m sure comfortable in the human dungeons until you die as traitors.”

She shook her head. “They didn’t—It was just me.”

you’ll be

“Why would I believe that?” I asked. “Maya? Anya? Isn’t she related to one of the dead Elders?” Her eyes widened.

“I believe so, Your Highness.”

“A traitor on two counts–”

“I had nothing to do with that!”

“Seem more likely than not,” I smiled. You know, I was really curious about what you got out of this, considering. He doesn’t have any money. He doesn’t have any property… Was he that good of a lover? Or perhaps you just love him so much? To risk everything?

She set her jaw. I shrugged. Not really caring one way or the other. “Tonight, Lady Mei.”

As I turned to leave Lady Mei’s chambers, I heard a crash followed by a string of curses. I paused, grinning at how predictable she was. I turned back, my eyes fixed on the door.

“Your Highness?”

I pressed a finger to my lips and crept back.

“I’ll be right back,” I said, my voice barely a whisper.

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CH126

I crept closer to the door, listening intently. I could hear Lady Mei pacing back and forth, her voice angry and frustrated. Then, I heard the sound of glass shattering. The window had been broken. There was a sound of a door opening. And my heart raised There wasn’t a secret tunnel out of the harem, but just into the garden. Good. 1 motioned to a guard.

“With me. Anya and Maya, head back to the council chamber and we’ll reconvene later.”

They nodded and the guard came with me, back into Mei’s room and into the slowly closing passageway. I waited a few moments, listening for any sound. Her footsteps are getting farther away quickly, but not so quickly that we would lose her.

We f

followed her out to the garden and then through the garden into another passage that led out into a side street into the city.

“Take note of this passageway and get guard stationed here as soon as possible. Send a message if

you can.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

As I followed Lady Mei through the bustling streets of the capital, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of excitement. I had never imagined that she would just lead me to Elia or to a solid lead. But this was perfect.

“Where is she going?” I asked, pointing to the shop she seemed to be heading toward.

“That’s the apothecary, Your Highness.”